Restored Madonna del Latte Returns to Sant’Ambrogio

The fourteenth-century fresco Madonna del Latte with Child between Saints John the Baptist and Bartholomew has been unveiled again in the Church of Sant’Ambrogio after a meticulous restoration by Cristina Napolitano, carried out under the supervision of the Soprintendenza ABAP of Florence and funded by the non-profit foundation Friends of Florence.

The project, which received the 2024 Friends of Florence Award at the Florence Art Restoration Fair, brings back to public view one of the earliest depictions of Saint Ambrose preserved in the church. The restoration removes decades of overpainting and surface damage, revealing the delicate details and colour harmony characteristic of the late Gothic period in Florence.

Art historians attribute the fresco to the Master of the Rinuccini Chapel, an anonymous painter identified by scholar Luciano Bellosi in 1973 as Matteo di Pacino, active between 1359 and 1374 and trained in the circle of Orcagna. The latest conservation work has allowed a closer comparison with other known works by the artist, confirming stylistic features such as the refined modelling of the faces and the subtle use of light in the Virgin’s mantle.

Friends of Florence president Simonetta Brandolini d’Adda said the foundation was proud to return a vital piece of Florence’s fourteenth-century heritage to the community, thanking the parish of Sant’Ambrogio and San Giuseppe, the Soprintendenza, and art historian Claudio Paolini, who contributed scholarly guidance to the project.

Paolini noted that the restoration not only preserves an important example of local devotional art but also helps reconstruct another chapter in the city’s artistic history. Parish priest Don Daniele Rossi added thatthe fresco’s theme—Mary nursing the Child—embodies a deep theological meaning, linking the human reality of nourishment to the mystery of the Incarnation and the Church as a nurturing mother.

The work has had a complex conservation history. Originally frescoed directly on the wall, it was rediscovered in 1839, restored several times, and around 1960 detached and mounted on a panel. The recent intervention removed layers of soot, synthetic coatings and surface residues, replaced deteriorated stucco and integrated losses using calibrated tones to enhance legibility without altering the original structure.

Napolitano described the opportunity to work on the painting as a privilege and expressed the hope that visitors to Sant’Ambrogio will appreciate its rediscovered beauty and craftsmanship. The fresco, once again visible without scaffolding, stands as a testament to the enduring dialogue between faith, art and care for Florence’s heritage.

🎄 Support Florence Daily News this holiday season

If you value our work, please consider supporting Florence Daily News this Christmas.
We’re an independent news site — free from paywalls and intrusive ads — committed to offering clear and reliable reporting on Florence and Tuscany for everyone.

Your contribution helps us remain independent and continue telling the stories that matter.
As a small thank-you, supporters this holiday season will receive an original photograph of Florence — a simple, meaningful gift to celebrate the city we all love.

🎁 Donate securely via Stripe below and make your gift count for good journalism in Tuscany.